Welcome to Melville United Church th

Transcription

1 Welcome to Melville United Church th March 10, in Lent MINISTERS: The People of the Congregation *You are invited to stand in body and/or in spirit. 1 Our Mission We seek, we pray, we act knowing that Jesus is amongst us. Our Vision Knowing we are not alone on our spiritual journeys, Melville United Church seeks to be an open, compassionate and inclusive Christian community; honouring and serving the living Christ in all that we do. *** WE GATHER AS GOD S PEOPLE The Life and Work of the Church and Community. PRELUDE: Improvisation Gathering Meditation. Today is the fourth Sunday of Lent. Lent is a time to think about the things that block us from following God's way of loving and caring for this world and one another. So we ask: Not what we can take but what we can give Not what we can possess but what we can share Not what we can acquire but what we can contribute Not what we can attain But what we can achieve Not what we can earn But what we can spend Not what we can secure. But what we can give up. This is how we will travel in Lent. Lenten candles are lit Gathering Music: MV 85 Take, O Take Me As I Am Take, O take me as I am; summon out what I shall be; set your seal upon my heart and live in me. Take, O take me as I am; summon out what I shall be; set your seal upon my heart and live in me.

2 Mar 10, Call to worship One: From far away places, from close at hand; with hearts troubled, with minds at rest, welcome your people, Holy One. All: For we come to worship you. One: Carrying heavy loads, travelling light; walking in fear, living in faith, Welcome your people Holy One. All: For we come to worship you with all that is good in our lives One: with all that hurts and hinders us with past and present in us and the future before us. All: We come to worship you and find our way home. OPENING SONG: VU 405 New Every Morning Opening Prayer (unison) One: From the moment God spoke, from the flicker of first light, God has journeyed with creation. All: In the ups and downs of our lives in our triumphs and our failures, God is the one travelling with us, who calls us back, who reminds us of home and sets our feet towards a path of wonder and mystery. One: Be with us now living God as we come to worship you. Amen. Mar 10, Prayer of Reminder God of promise and hope, you call us to trust in your way and set before us paths of faithfulness. Sometimes we hesitate to follow you and to make changes in our lives. Sometimes our priorities and commitments reflect personal interests more than your desire for our lives and world. Free us, O God, that we might be faithful to you in the name of the Christ, we pray. Amen. Assurance of God s Grace As we let go of what hurts and separates us, our gracious and forgiving God makes a new way of being in community possible. God is with us! Let us travel in peace, in new life, in hope, and in promise. One: All: One; May peace be with you And also with you. Please greet those around you with the peace of Christ. WE APPROACH GOD BAND SONG: MV 51 Yahweh be Praised Theme Conversation - Letting Go of Hopelessness WE LISTEN FOR GOD'S WORD SCRIPTURE READING: Hebrew Scripture: Joshua 5: 9-12 A New Chapter is Unfolding Gospel Lesson: Luke 15: 1-3, 11b-32 Finding our Way home. The prodigal Son One: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church. All: Thanks be to God. Reader: Alison Rainford

3 Mar 10, Choir Anthem: Be Still and Know - L. Larsson REFLECTION: THESE SHOES FOR MADE FOR WALKING Time of Reflection Valerie Pitt Mar 10, Joys and Concerns Prayers of the Community Prayer of Jesus Weaving together our prayers SONG: VU 633 Bless Now, O God, the Journey Offertory Invitation WE RESPOND TO GOD'S WORD Cody's Song: I Call To You When sorrow floods life and my heart weeps with sadness, When depression consumes will and makes me motionless, When frustration fuels rage and I act in blindness, I call to you, God. You give me understanding So I can see You give me inspiration So I can move You give me joy So I can laugh You give me joy So I may live. Offertory Response: VU 538 For the Gift of Creation For the gift of creation, the gift of your love, and the gift of the Spirit by which we live, we thank you and give you the fruit of our hands. May your grace be proclaimed by the gifts that we give. Offertory Prayer (unison) As the prodigal made for home, we turn back to you. As the parent celebrated his return, we rejoice with all who love you. What we offer today is a simple token of all that you have given. So we ask that you receive us and our offerings, as we come with grateful hearts. Amen. Act of Letting Go Today we will extinguish the fourth Lenten Candle. This candle represents hopelessness. As the candle is blown out, let us pray in silence for God to remove hopelessness from us, empowering us to believe that when we work with God we can change ourselves and can make the world a better place. (silence) Knowing that God accepts us for who we are, and loves us into who we can be, let us join together our closing song. CLOSING SONG: VU 266 Amazing Grace Blessing Arms opened wide to receive us love given freely to re-shape us, forgiveness generously shared. Go into the world in peace and in joy to journey again with God. The blessing of God, Creator, Redeemer and Holy Spirit be yours. Amen. Choral Response: Go Now in Peace Don Besig & Nancy Price Go now in peace. Never be afraid. God will go with you each hour of ev'ry day. Go now in faith, steadfast, strong and true. Know God will guide you in all you do. Go now in love, and show you believe. Reach out to others so all the world can see. God will be there within, around, above. Go now in peace, in faith, and in love. Amen, Amen, Amen Copyright "All rights reserved," "CCLI "

4 Mar 10, POSTLUDE: Rigardion- A. Campra OUR WORSHIP IS OVER - OUR SERVICE BEGINS. Prayers used in today s service may be from Seasons of the Spirit or Gathering Magazine. Partners in Prayer: Elora Road Christian Fellowship Prayer Cycle for Hamilton Conference: Mississauga Chinese Prayer Tree Captain: Alison Rainford Welcomers: Counters: ANNOUNCEMENTS March 10, 2013 Virginia Ingleby, Eleanor Johnston Mary Lloyd, Karen Smillie Dennis Hons (C), Graeme Chalmers Lloyd Ross If you are a guest today, please know you are most welcome! Please sign our Guest Book at the back of the church or in the entranceway. TODAY AFTER CHURCH!! - The Labyrinth as a Spiritual Practice with Chris Grose as facilitator. Join us in the chapel after the church service to learn more about walking the labyrinth. Christ Grose is a member of Alma United Church and a trained labyrinth facilitator. Tower Street Door: Due to the bridge construction and since the sidewalk has been closed, please avoid using the door to Tower Street, except as an emergency exit. Thank you Spirituality Circle meeting on Monday, March 11 at 10 a.m. in the parlour. Our Lenten Study continues on Tuesday at 12 noon. We will begin by sharing soup. The study will begin at 12:30 p.m. The study books "Diving Deeply". All are welcome. th Baptism Sunday is April 28. Please speak to Val if you are interested. Mar 10, Melville United Book Group I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor's Journey on the Road to Peace and Human Dignity by Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish. Copies available in the library. Thank you everyone who supported our efforts in February with small financial donations for margarine purchases for the food bank. A total of $235 was forwarded to the food bank. For the month of March we have been asked to collect drinking boxes and pudding cups. Melville is continuing to make a difference with our help of the food bank. Your support is truly appreciated, Mission and Outreach Committee. The World Day of Prayer will be at the Central Pentecostal Church on nd Fri. Mar 22 at 2:00 p.m. "Irish Stew Supper": Is being held on Sat. Mar. 16th 5:00-6:30pm, in our Fellowship Hall. Come early!!! A hearty beef stew supper, including Soda Bread/Breads, Coleslaw, Veggies, Dessert and Drinks. Alternate Children's Menu: Hot Dogs Tickets: $10.00 or $25.00 per family Available at: or (Church) and also at Broderick's Apparel for Men. You won't want to miss this fun evening!!! Please show your support! Canadian Bible Society Dinner. Please mark your calendars for the Annual CBS Dinner to be on MARCH 16, 2013 at the Alma Bible Church. The Theme is: Prisoner s Key to Freedom - The speaker will be Rev. Eleanor Clitheroe, Head of Prison Fellowship. Tickets $15.00 call John or Thelma You are also welcome to come to hear the speaker without attending the dinner. Waterloo Presbyterial Annual Gathering on Mon. Apr. 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Forest Hill United Church in Kitchener. Cost is $10 from your U.C.W. President or Margot at Jenny Stephens - guest presenter at Council Meeting - March 20. This th will be an interactive exploration of various models of ministry. ALL WELCOME! 7:00 p.m. - Coffee and Conversation. 7:30 p.m. the meeting starts.

5 Mar 10, In Fall 2012, the council of Melville United Church agreed to become a Child Honouring Community. With religious & spiritual leaders from around the world, including former United Church Moderator Bill Phipps, we make the following commitment in honour of children: We hereby make a new promise to the young of our world With utmost compassion we urge an end to all forms of maltreatment and violence against children We uphold the sanctity of children We respect their personhood We affirm their inherent dignity and their right to peace love and security Please visit to learn more about the child honouring movement. Toward Daring Discipleship a Lenten Study will be on Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. 1:00 at the home of Chris Grose in Alma. Here is a break down of the dates and what we will be covering: Thursday March 7th: Introduction/Study Overview and Lent ; Thursday March 21st: Lent 2 & 3; Thursday March 28th: Lent 4 & 5. Please speak to Val for more information. Looking for "extras" to play characters in a Global Village. April 13th from 1-4 p.m. Characters will help create a fantasy world for youth from the area to explore global issues - lots of guidance provided. If interested in doing a little acting, exploring global issues, or just spending some time with a great group of youth, please jen: youthleader@melvilleunited.com. Mar 10, WEEKLY CALENDAR Mon. Mar 11 to Sun. Mar. 17, 2013 Mon :00 Spirituality Circle Parlour Tues. 12 9:00 Quilting Heritage Hall 11:45 Soup and Lenten Study Parlour Thurs. 14 7:00 Choir Parlour Fri :00 Coffee Hour Parlour 11:00 Meditation Library Sat :30 Irish Stew Supper Fellowship Hall Sun. 17 9:30 Choir Choir Room Sunday Service Sanctuary Melville United Church St. Andrew Street West, Fergus, ON: Team Ministry Interim Minister: Valerie Pitt Youth Ministry Leader: Jennifer Auger Director of Music: Matthias Schmidt Church Secretary: Gerri McCullough Custodian: Robert Mitchell Chair of Church Council: Ralph Rainford Pastoral Care: Millie Cumming, Elizabeth Stinson Chair of Pastoral Care & Prayer Chain Captain Alison Rainford Secretary's Office hours: 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. T., T. & F. secretary@melvilleunited.com Web Site:

6 Mar 10, 2013 The Labyrinth is a Tool to Guide Healing it is a tool to guide healing, deepen self-knowledge and empower creativity; It clears the mind and gives insight into the spiritual journey; it urges action it calms people in the throes of life transitions it helps them see their lives in the context of a path, a pilgrimage; they realize that they are not human beings on a spiritual path but spiritual beings on a human path; to those of us who feel we have untapped gifts to offer, it stirs the creative fires within; to others who are in deep sorrow, the walk gives solace and peace; the experience is different for everyone because each of us brings different raw material to the labyrinth; we bring our unique hopes, dreams, history, and longings of the soul. The Rev. Dr. Lauren Artress